New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-12
THE DRAMA-.UU SIC.
aTUE MOUSE TRAP" AT WALLACK'

aTUE MOUSE TRAP" AT WALLACho'
vollacls Theatre which reopened last night lor
the regular dramatic season, has now Deeh iorin.'
started on a new career under Its new manages 'i'
ronr, l. Abbey IL ceased some time ago to be wal
l,cks Theatre except name but the fdct Is OILY no"
absolntely realized Mr.. Walack, indeed. retains Ill
IN crest in the property gives advice as I'd 'e o1'
OF IT, and pay be expected somewhat 10 lhnucnc" Nv
management Eut another is now ami hehceioIt" Us
cn,e, ore of those quiet tansition- which mark the
nicht OF time the change OF public taste the
alike OF old favontes AID OF the people woo
.,gc1 Them and the arrival growth OF new genera
tion with new idols and new ideas, has Deeh ''o"i'
plisLed with the celebrity and ease cf perIecuy
event and amid general concurrence Inc "'''"'N
dvr,stv respected aud adruired-and by few veteran
play guers sincerely regrettcd-passes INTO our heao
history and M Abbey years ago an adVentur-
s ,uarrr IA an obscure country town. reisus In us
stead He had bis inaugural last night with the pres
encc Of Il numerous and brilliant audience WIN si''''
of fashion ard umut ~ applause, with hgnts AGO i"sio
and cagcr xcitemcnt, with the essential al nhcs Oh
fine company and a gravely pleasing play ana ihueeu
h every auspic.ous circumstance that could be ex'
rccted lie copes 20 this post OF nieeetnai le"e'7p
In the maturity CT talent experience. energy ana zeal
Ii iuuen, Is known Ia good his spirit e1pediouS'
Iii, taste refined. his lIberalty nun1eent IL may wei
he expected ho will conduct this storiei lheA'o
equally with respect for AL that Is worthy III It's '
tops and for all that is noble and right in the public
/
from the cmrh greeting OF goodwill anu eooi "i'
that welcomed him last night In pleasure in nope anu III
confidence 10 the sovereignty OF Wallacks theatre
This inaugural night-long be remembered FOR It's
intrinsic intcrest-was scnaltzed by an uncolnmouIy
ori, expression OF popular favor toward Miss Rose
/ coghIan Mrs Abbey and Mr. Osmond Teare, by the
iudicious and authoritative performance OF MT chares
Groves fwho easily engrossed the cher honofs OF 'e
acn aud by the first production upon any stage OF
,br,eart drama entitled The Mouse Trap" written ny
Mr. sidney Grundy. Of London MI Grumpy IS oosipar
atiyely new IN this Held, bat ne : one O COZ
sricn1us ability and sincere purpose he has made MS
way patiently and surely and he now occupies Vi
honorable distinction LIS anaptSt!on @ "a npder
duccd here last season by Miss Genevete "ard uhdeI
the name Of The Queen tavorte Will &c Tbe niece
specially delicate ana sparkling eohedy me pet
i tinccd with almost tragic shadow of enshroudlng
What do You call the play !" asks Mig Ciaudins
"The Mouse Trap" answers HanNt MARTY, nov
Tropcally This play Ia the Image etc IL /. from this
shakrspeariaD that Mr. Grundy has derived ma
vded than which Is supplied by detailed narrative
the incidents of plot ihs one lie tue image OF
country house and which has reference 10 o'e anu
poison Viewed as whole, u Is ,he Uo
In action Tor which II is saturated with quietaue
engarcd In pni,onnc her infatuated husband girl
altogether lovely has beer LETT out OF hf rghu lhneIlt
go IN conscoirnce OF her repent ant fathers crime for
Which dying he has tried to atone Both these victims
are befrended by benevolent and sagacous )ctor ana
A. IA 10 thwart the dangerous wife and prosper the III
used rr that this bbed old man sets his
mouse trap There are incidental threads OF juvenile
romance struug loosely upon this theme Inc man
subject though which attention Is directed Is the por
trayal OF woman tender. silky and composed who can
murder while size smiles Readers who recall certain
episodes In Monte Cristo," ana who remember such
pays as "The Gray Lady OF fenaroon. VIII perceive
that this IL ancient topic Mr urundy however mas
handled il with quiet strength and grace ;,
The character OF Bcnf,1ce SeIryi was sustained ov
Mrs Abbey with elIghtful and with quiet inc
sive concentration, showing alike inc technical art
and remarkable reserve power MI ltai!e ana MISS
orLlan are not cast parts that make any UNUSUAL
demand upon their strength Both were pleasing IN
pre love scene the second act which Is quite ~ tue
vein of Robertson But before Indicated, the control
ling spirit piece is derived from the benevolent
character and grabbed humor or the old phys lcan so
well embodied by Mr.. Groves The Mouse Trap.
which shows but half the strength OF MI Ahheys com
many serves Indicate the design ana direction or his
policy The theatre has been regded and improved
There are persons IN this piece Ihe stress
a. laid anon persc OF situation. point IN the dialogue
and finish the acting. Excellent scenery. showing
richly furnished interiors by Mr. Goatcher. expert
mechanism by Mr. Dorrington and costly ana suitable
properties by Mr. slcdle contributed to insure ioi he
Mouse Tran an effective setting The cast III full
should be preserved and is here appended: